August 10 2016

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Cop To Be Grilled For Attempted Murder

A Police Officer is expected to appear in court today to answer to charges of attempted murder, which occurred in Itaballi, Region 7. It is alleged that on August 5, 2016 the Officer responded to reports of domestic violence by Shawn Simmons. It is further alleged that upon arrival at the scene, the officer physically assaulted the man when his weapon went off and wounded Simmons in the back.

Simmons was rushed to the Bartica Hospital and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. This newspaper understands that the Officer fled the scene and was subsequently arrested at Tipperu Crossing. The Office of Professional Responsibility of the Guyana Police Force had since intervened and investigations are continuing. A full story will be provided later in the day.

New GPC Accuses Health Minister Of Lying; Says Storage Of Drugs Was Free The New GPC Company, owned by Bobby Ramroop, has dismissed claims by Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who told the National Assembly on Monday that government paid New GPC $19.2M per month for rental of its 70,000 sq ft warehouse for storage of pharmaceuticals. A statement from New GPC on Wednesday revealed that the company has been storing pharmaceuticals at its warehouse free of charge to the government for more than a decade up to March 1, 2016.

Dr Norton told the National Assembly on Monday that government was paying the New GPC $19.2 million a month to store the pharmaceuticals and wanted a cheaper facility. He later said that with the “exorbitant price called by the New GPC” there was an urgency to find a new storage facility. As such, the government now pays the new rental company, registered as Linden Holding Company, $12.5 million a month and according to the minister there was no public tendering because it “was an emergency.”

But according to New GPC’s statement, “The corporation invested hundreds of millions into the most extensive and modern warehousing facility for the Government’s pharmaceuticals. The NEW GPC storage warehouse facility of 70,000 square feet had been provided free of cost to the GHPC and the Ministry of Health. It has the necessary equipment, staff, IT, security, certification and sanitation to comply with WHO/PAHO standards,” the statement noted.

According to the statement, the facility also has three separate temperature control zones for the storage of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals in addition to a separate area for the storage of controlled substances. “It also has testing facilities for pharmaceuticals as well as several loading docks to handle the multiple containers that are usual in the government procurement shipment.”

The statement further clarified after the Ministry of Public Health indicated substantive and substantial alterations in the old bidding procedure for pharmaceuticals on March 1, 2016, government approached the NEWGPC to continue providing storage for pharmaceuticals for the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC. “At that point the corporation indicated it would charge the government a rate of $237/sq foot for the state of the art storage facility.

At this time, contrary to the asseverations of the Minister in Parliament, the NEWGPC has not received a single cent from the government for the rentals due since March 1, 2016 even though there are substantial quantities of pharmaceuticals being stored in the warehouse,” the statement clarified. “There have also been references attributed to Government officials about a “previous" rental agreement. This is totally false: NEWGPC always provided its warehouse free of charge.”

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

GRA To Hunt Down Businesses That Elude VAT The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will now be hunting down businesses that have been eluding Value Added Tax (VAT), which Commissioner General Godfrey Statia said is causing billions in losses for the Authority.

At a press conference on Monday, Statia indicated that the GRA was shifting gears to focus on enforcement activities as there were instances where VAT leakages occurred and this cost the authority billions of dollars.

Also at the press conference was Finance Minister Winston Jordan who stated that the GRA had “let the Government down” when it comes to VAT refunds and collections.

“I feel this is an area that GRA has really let the Government down in many ways in aspects of refunds, not paying people their refunds on time, people benefiting from refunds they should not have received,” the Minister said.

According to him, in many instances the VAT department of GRA acted like a “post office”, pointing out that the VAT refunds were a heavy financial burden that the coalition Government inherited. Adding to the Minster's statement, Statia said measures were in place to overhaul the criteria for granting VAT exemptions which has amounted to as much as $20 billion for the first half of 2016.

“What we are trying to do is to tighten it whereby ourselves – the Ministry of Finance, GO-Invest and GRA – we sit down and by which we could grant exemptions rather than being granted on a willy-nilly basis as I have seen,” he said.

He also indicated that GRA has paid out $2 billion in refunds for the year and that figure was projected to climb to $5 billion by the end of the year. By- Pablo Cupido, Guyana Daily News.

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Police Constable Granted Bail On Attempted Murder Charge Police Constable Lyndon Thompson appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, charged with the attempted murder of Shawn Simmons at Itaballi Landing, Region Seven on August 5, 2016. The court heard that on the day in question, he unlawfully discharged a firearm at Simmonds. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on GY$150,000 bail; the police rank is slated to return to court on September 6, 2016 before the Chief Magistrate.

Through his lawyer, the court heard that Thompson has been a Constable in the Guyana Police Force for six years and he has a 4-year-old daughter. The prosecution did not object to bail but requested that Thompson lodge his passport and report to the “F” division office of the Guyana Police Force once per week. His lawyer further told the court that there is a misunderstanding in the Prosecution’s facts, stating that his client was on duty and responded to a domestic violence complaint.

According to the lawyer, when Thompson arrived on the scene Simmons was still in the act of being violent against a woman and Thompson along with others tried to stop him. The lawyer alleged that Simmons continued to behave in an irrational manner and tried to grab Thompson’s gun when he was shot. The attorney stated that his client, with the help of others, put Simmons into a boat and transported him to the Bartica Hospital where he was treated. -BY- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Fisherman Charged With Possession Of Marijuana

Magistrate Leron Daly today released Trevor Hopkinson on GY$50,000 bail for the illegal possession of 47.2 grams of cannabis with the intent of trafficking. Hopkinson will return before the Chief Magistrate on September 14, 2016. Defense Attorney, Ronald Daniels informed the court that his client is a 29 - year - old resident of West Ruimveldt and has a 10 month old daughter whom he provides for.

The court was further informed that the accused is a fisherman at the Pritipaul Singh Wharf. The Defense lawyer stated that Hopkinson was at a shop in West Ruimveldt to purchase a drink and was sitting on a bench with others. The lawyer said ranks on police patrol stopped and searched the men and found nothing; however a search was conducted around the area when the ranks found a bag which contained the said narcotics and blamed his client. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Huge Cocaine Bust At CJIA A West Coast Demerara man is in police custody after over 100 pounds of cocaine was found in a shipment of frozen fish and shrimp at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The discovery was made on Tuesday evening by ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch. This newspaper understands that the shipment was intended for New York. Police are on the hunt for other suspects. In Guyana, there are several cases of cocaine being hidden in sanitary pads, frozen fishes, shrimps and achar. As a result of the the intent of the government is to decrease the circulation of the illegal substance by increasing the security of entry and exit spots such as airports and borders. by Rocial Perez-Guyana Daily News

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

More Venezuelans Charged With Entering Guyana Illegally Magistrate Leron Daly today fined five Venezuelan women GY$20,000 each and ordered to be deported after they pleaded guilty to entering Guyana illegally on July 25. The five women are Julio Federo, Kiona Guadara, Maria Federo, Yolalo Sanchez and Lana Diana Kareen.

It is alleged that on the date in question, the five women came from Venezuela by means of sea on a motor vessel and entered Guyana at Eteringbang, Cuyuni, Essequibo without the legal consent of an immigration officer. This matter is the second of the nature to appear before the court this week and third in three weeks seeing 21 Venezuelan Nationals so far being caught, charged and passed before the court for illegal entry into Guyana. -By- Jarred Singh, Guyana Daily News.

Public Servants To Be Trained In Spanish

Over fifty (50) Public Servants are to benefit from training in the Spanish language under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ third Spanish course through collaboration with the Republic of Colombia. The course will begin on Tuesday, August 16 at the Ministry’s Foreign Service Institute, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Public Servants will be taught the principles of the foreign language.

Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, Ronald Austin during his remarks at the orientation session today, at the Foreign Service Institute said that in Guyana “we have adopted a mentality whereas we don’t believe that we have to learn the language of any other country, they should learn ours.” The programme will be facilitated by Professor Nelson Hernan Giraldo Sanguino, who holds a Candidate to Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages, and a Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Sanguino has taught at several institutions, academies and universities.

The sessions will be held on Tuesdays through Thursdays and will last for a period of four months. Sandra Chung, Foreign Service Officer 2, Desk Officer of the Guyana South America Bilateral Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that in 2013 and 2014, several Public Servants also benefited from this training. The participants received a certificate from the National University of Colombia. She added that in April 2014, the two countries’ governments signed an agreement to promote Spanish as a foreign language. Guyana and Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia, Ronald Austin and Professor Nelson Hernan Giraldo Sanguino along with Sandra Chung, Foreign Service Officer 2, Desk Officer of the Colombia established bilateral relations on December 18, 1970 and has Guyana South America Bilateral Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the head table at the Ministry’s Spanish course orientation maintained a strong relationship ever since. (GINA)

Iwokrama To Have Modern Aerodrome – Celebrates 20 Years Of Preserving Lungs Of The Earth Flying in and out of Iwokrama will soon be made easier. The National Assembly approved $110M for the extension of the Fairview Airstrip, in Region Nine, by 4,200 feet to accommodate larger aircraft. Fairview is the only indigenous community within Iwokrama’s boundaries and close to the Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation. During an examination of requests on Monday, in the National Assembly, for Supplementary provisions to complete the project, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson told the House that the construction of this modern aerodrome and the extension of the airstrip at Fairview will boost Iwokrama and its work in preserving the ‘lungs of the world.’

“Fairview airstrip was always plagued with a rock bar, which will shorten the runway; we were able with the help of the army to remove that rock bar…when it’s completed there is a road around it, when the airstrip is done there will be a fence for security reasons; there is a walk in area just not an airstrip,” Minister Patterson advised the National Assembly. Cash-strapped Iwokrama is currently working to change its financial model as it cannot rely solely on donor funds. The Centre is actively marketing itself through tourism. It gets an average of 11001300 tourists annually. With the advent of the rehabilitated Fairview Airstrip, the Centre will be looking to attract more visitors and thereby increase its earnings.

Recently, Prime Minster Moses Nagamootoo and a team including Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock visited the centre and also met with the Toshao, Lucy Marselow and residents of Fairview. During that meeting the Prime Minister advised that the world is facing climate change and the sustenance of projects like Iwokrama is important.

“Having a modern aerodrome here is going to be of tremendous benefit to you; you may be inconvenienced now, you may feel a little bit shortchanged that you have to make some sacrifice, but you have to look for the long-term betterment when businesses will start developing here, jobs will be created, more people will come in,” the Prime Minister said. Iwokrama’s mission is to promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rain forests in a manner that leads to lasting ecological, economic, and social benefits to Guyanese and to the world in general. This is being achieved by undertaking research, training, and the development and dissemination of technologies.

(GINA)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

First Lady makes financial donation to Rotaract Club's Operation BOOST Georgetown, Guyana – (August 9, 2016) First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, today, made a financial contribution to the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central's Operation BOOST, which targets 150 nursery and primary age students in Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two).

The project aims to, firstly, to provide 150 backpacks and school supplies for students from both the Lima Sands Nursery and the Lima Sands Primary schools on August 20. The group also plans to enhance the Lima Sands Nursery School by providing outdoor playfield equipment, repainting its interior walls and renovating its library. A medical outreach exercise will also be held to benefit the entire community.

The First Lady met with club President, Mr. Cecil Maxwell, Community Services Director, Ms. Sheena McLean, Club Secretary, Ms. Laurel Dundas, Assistant Community Services Director, Mr. Ashley Bailey at her State House office. Mr. Andrew Boyle, member of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, the parent club of the Rotaract group, also attended the meeting.

“I am happy to support any project that supports children's development and I found the Rotaract project to be a worthy one,” the First Lady said.

Mr. Maxwell acknowledged that his group needs monetary support to realise the success of this project. As such, he extended gratitude to the First Lady for her financial support. “Like any other project it is a hefty cost so we try as much as possible to reach out to the private sector and as much as possible to the Government as well. The First Lady [responded] to our call and …donated to this project… she has agreed First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger is flanked by, financially to provide the support we need to [realise] this project,” he from left to right, Mr. Ashley Bailey, Mr. Cecil Maxwell, Mr. Andrew Boyle, Ms. Sheena McLean said.

MOTP PRESS RELEASE and Ms. Laurel Dundas, at State House

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Possible Increase Of Gas Prices By Year End, Venezuela’s President Optimistic The crude oil prices reflect oscillations in prices of diesel and gasoline, which has a direct correlation with the economy; when prices drop, a country with a strong currency experiences a greater drop than those countries that do not. Price and demand also go hand to hand. The lower the demand, the lower the price, the higher the demand the higher the price.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plays a vital role in the change in any figure into the price of the crude oil as well. This powerful organization is composed by 12 of the major petroleum producers worldwide, with Venezuela as one of their founders.

The slight increase in the global demand could slowly boost the oil prices. In today’s publication of Venezuelan Newspaper “El Mundo” an article quoted President Nicolas Maduro, who alluded to the ‘high’ possibilities of oil prices to increase in a short period of time. According to the article, during his television show, Maduro pointed out how the internal economy should and will be prepared for the President Nicolas Maduro increase in the crude prices, this one with an estimate figure of $70 dollars the barrel. “The economy will perfectly assimilate it and it will be a push for the global economic growth,” Maduro was quoted as saying.

On that matter, he pointed how this conclusion was made after having conversations with Saudi Arabia’s King Salmán bin Abdulaziz,Catar’s Emir and the Iran president. He also stated how a notice was sent to Russian President, Vladimir Putting, and communications about the matter are held with president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa and other (OPEC) members with the purpose to arrange a series of meeting for August and September to “review and re-launch plans that allowed us to stabilize the first semester, even though this ones were faced in a moderated way, and still low as the oil crude prices are $40 dollars the barrel.”

With Venezuela’s economy on the brink of a crisis, and largely based on the petroleum sector, the rise of the crude oil prices could signify a start for changes. Positives or negatives are yet to be seen.

Source: http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/petroleo/industria/maduro--el-precio-...

-By- Rocio Perez, Guyana Daily News.

REGIONAL PAGE 11

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Daaga remembered Kafra Kambon, head of the Emancipation Support Committee, one of Makandal Daaga’s right hand men during the 1970s Black Power revolution, first met him when he was president of the guild at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in the late 1960s.

Daaga, born Geddes Granger, was the son of a mechanic and a housewife of Laventille Road, Laventille, who placed a strong emphasis on education. “Once Daaga took over the guild, students became more involved in the wider community.

“Students were encouraged to go into poorer communities like Laventille and give young people lessons and get involved with trade unions and civil groups,” Kambon recalled. Tracing his experience with Daaga, Kambon said a protest by students at the Sir George Williams University of Canada against a racist professor in February 1969 triggered the formation of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC). Canada’s Governor General, Roland Michener, visited the UWI campuses which were supporting the protest in a bid to appease them but he never got past the St Augustine gate.

Daaga, Kambon and other students, including former government minister, Augustus Ramrekarsingh, blocked him, causing a major uproar in society. “We met and formed NJAC that same evening. We put together a group of students, trade unionists and other stakeholders to deal with Canadian imperialism in the Caribbean and the situation at Sir George Williams University.

“We became immediately active, holding public meetings every night all over the country about racism home and abroad,” Kambon said. NJAC joined the bus strike headed by former Transport and Industrial Workers Trade Union president, Clive Nunez, and Daaga and Kambon were arrested in May 1969 for blocking buses.

After that they continued to mobilise. “Units of NJAC were built up in communities all over the country and by the time 1970 came around, we were well known and well entrenched. Of course, we were also absolutely hated by a section of society,” he recalled. The famous Black Power march of February 1970 started almost innocently and quietly, Kambon said.

“A small group of 200 or 300 of us were planning to go and protest by the Canadian embassy on the day the students at the Canadian university were going on trial. “We took the demonstration to RBC on Independence Square instead and the police came and expelled us from the bank. “That changed the whole mood of the protest and, as we were crossing Independence Square, we went into a store owned by a Montano with our flags and came back out. Just to intimidate them,” he added.

Kambon said the Catholic church in Montreal had made racist remarks about the protesting students at Sir George Williams University and Daaga and his supporters reached the Catholic church on Independence Square, somebody said: “Man, let’s go in the church.” They draped white statues in the church with black flags and preached from the pulpit.

“By the time we came out the church, thousands had joined us and shops were closing and workers were being sent home,” he added. The next morning Daaga, Kambon and a few others were picked up by the police for desecration of a public place of worship, conspiracy to cause public riots and assaulting a police officer.

When they were released, NJAC, led by Daaga, described as a powerful speaker, held two months of intense demonstrations all over the country, joined by thousands of public servants and sugar workers.

“We held a march from Port-of-Spain to Caroni but it was when we decided to march from Caroni to Port-of-Spain the State decided to strike. They declared a state of emergency on April 21, 1970,” he said.

Daaga, Kambon, George Weekes and others were arrested the next day as political detainees and spent seven to eight months in prison. Kambon, summing up Daaga’s contribution to T&T, said: “He had a significant influence on the major changes in the country in the 20th century, including the nationalisation of private entities.

“He made a serious dent in bridging the gap between Africans and Indians in T&T at the time and helped Afro-Trinidadians reaffirm their identity. “There was also a resurgence of Indian culture after the 1970s revolution.”

Raffique Shah Former leader of the army mutiny of 1970, Raffique Shah, first met Daaga in the Royal Gaol (renamed Port-ofSpain State Prison). Daaga was arrested on April 21 when a state of emergency was declared after he and thousands of NJAC supporters staged a protest march. Shah said the army mutiny, led by he and Rex la Salle, partly came out of that. “Rex and I were arrested on May 1, 1970,” he added. He said he did not interact much with Daaga and his group since soldiering made that difficult. “We met from time-to-time in the prison yard but never formed the kind of friendship where we would visit each other’s homes,” he said. Giving his take on Daaga’s contribution to T&T, Shah said: “I give him credit for bringing some pride to AfroTrinidadians. “He also opened the doors for non-White, dark skinned people to get jobs in banks, with the cabin crew in BWIA and middle to upper level management in companies.”

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REGIONAL PAGE 12

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Daaga remembered (Cont’d) As for bringing African and Indians together, albeit for a brief time, Shah said he was not sure that stemmed from Daaga alone since decisions were made collectively by others in his group, including Winston Lennard, George Weekes, Kafra Kambon and a lot of others. He recalled the unity march from Port-of-Spain to Caroni on February 26, 1970 was under the banner, Africans and Indians Unite. “NJAC has to take credit for reaching out to Indians too. There was a large response from sugar workers in particular, who united with NJAC. “Others came out their homes during the march to Couva and applauded and gave water and fruit,” he added. Shah said after Daaga came out of prison he became reclusive and NJAC became a shadow of itself.

Oil dollars were flowing and the Williams adminstration doled out generously to perceived political opponents in a successful bid to quell them, he said. “When the 1986 general election came around, not one NJAC candidate got 1,000 votes.”

Shah said by the time Daaga went on the People’s Partnership platform in 2010, he was but a shadow of himself, due to age.

“He was 75 and no longer possessed his former oratorial skills. The PP appointed him a Caricom ambassador plenipotentiary but little is known about his activities in this sphere.”

Shah said he last saw Daaga in 2009 at the launch of a documentary on the Black Power Revolution at MovieTowne.

Sunity Maharaj. Media worker, Sunity Maharaj, wife of deceased Lloyd Best, who headed the Tapia House Movement which supported Black Power, said Daaga’s place in T&T’s history was assured. “In one of the thresholds between political independence and real independence, he emerged as one of the leading figures.” Daaga, she said, would be remembered for leading a movement to help black youths get an equal place in society and equal opportunities. “There were many who came out of university in 1962 who really felt they would have gotten a place in society but that was not so,” she said. She said Daaga helped raise, not just black, but national consciousness. “He made us all aware of discrimination on the basis of colour and race.” She said his actions pushed the Williams government to change its policies and come out and mingle more with the people. Dr Keith Rowley Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who is in the US undergoing medical examinations, sent condolences to family, friends and colleagues on the passing of Daaga. Lauding Daaga’s contribution to T&T, he said: “Mr Daaga made his mark as a political activist in the 1970s as leader of the Black Power Movement. “He was not afraid to challenge the status quo, speak up against injustice and advocate for equality. “Even in the latter years of his life, he continued to be a presence on the political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago which, undoubtedly, attested to the fact that his interest in the development of our twin island state never waned. "I join the rest of the national community in mourning the loss of Mr Daaga and hold up his loved ones in prayer. May he rest in peace.” In 2012, Rowley, at a public meeting, chastised Daaga for not speaking out against insufficient funding given to the Emancipation Support Committee for emancipation celebrations that year. He said Daaga was silent because he was “eating ah food” in the then government. He said Daaga’s biggest input into the People's Partnership government was the creation of the "absolute nonsense" Ministry of National Diversity and Social Integration”. Several people associated with Daaga the T&T Guardian spoke to felt those statements did not mean Rowley did not respect Daaga. Kambon said it may have been a political statement made in a certain context but did not necessarily mean that was how Rowley measured the whole man. Kwasi Mutema, NJAC chief servant, said he felt one should rise above those statements at this point in time and Daaga himself would not have placed any importance on it. Maxie Cuffie, Public Administration and Communications Minister, said: “A man is dead and the Prime Minister sent condolences. “If he didn’t, they would ask why. This is not the kind of question the media should be asking at this time.” Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert has also offered condolences on the passing of Daaga. “On behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, I join with the national community in extending heartfelt condolences to the Daaga family in this time of grief. “His leadership of the Black Power Movement in the 1970s brought about far- reaching change which have helped to shape the social and political reality of Trinidad and Tobago.”

(Trinidad Guardian) Makandal Daaga

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Khan Orders More Corporation Audits Local Government Minister Franklin Khan says audits for other regional corporations will begin at week’s end. He made the comment yesterday following the court appearances on Monday of four Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) employees on corruption charges. Speaking to reporters at a Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri’s) seminar, Khan said the allegations were a cause for concern. “Four officers from the CTTRC, public servants I might add, have been charged with accusations of corruption and I don’t want to comment on that in any detail because it is before the courts but it really does not look good in terms of the corporation and its management.”

While he declined to say which of the other 13 regional corporations would be audited, Khan said he had started the ball rolling.

“It is something we have heard of a lot in the local government reform consultation, that there are instances of possible corruption in the corporations and I have requested the permanent secretary to conduct audits in the specific corporations that I will not name right now, to see if this thing is more widespread than we think. The audit will start later this week by internal auditors from the Ministry of Local Government,” he added. With local government reform aimed at giving greater autonomy to the corporations coming, Khan said Central Government would have to keep a close eye on the situation.

During his feature address, Khan told those present from the corporations that they must take their jobs as accounting officers seriously. “Those of you who are public officers and are accountable for state resources, take that job seriously. “During local government reform consultation, which was strange to me, most of the accusations of corruption were not levelled against the councils, it comes to the administration, because you are the guys that effect the work and you are the ones who sign the documents that the work is certified correct and done, etc.

“It is your names that sign on the cheques.

At the end of the day, if an investigation has to take place it is not the council or the chairman, it’s not the mayor. The only cheque the mayor could sign is from the Mayor’s Fund,” he said. Revealing that Cabinet had approved $100 million for rural development last week, Khan called for quality assurance on all future projects. “Quality assurance must be applied at every step of the process, from the tendering process to the planning and execution of the work and detailed assessments before certification is approved.

“Quality assurance is so important. Something has gone fundamentally wrong, both in terms of our cost estimate, our project and contract management,” he said. Questioning the high costs attached to projects, Khan said the ministry needed to come back down to basics. “All of a sudden, everything in Trinidad costs $100 million. You look at some of these projects and ask yourself what is it in these projects that cost $100 million? You look at a contract that has been awarded for $10 million to build a retaining wall and you ask yourself the question, where is this money going? We have to come back down to basics,” he added. (Trinidad Guardian) Franklin Khan

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

OWTU Calls For Petrotrin Audit Former Petrotrin executives accused of paying themselves hefty pensions, performance bonuses and salaries to the tune of millions of dollars, must be investigated and charged if found guilty. So said president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget as he called for a forensic audit into Petrotrin, following a media expose that Petrotrin was seeking to recover millions of dollars in unauthorised salary increases awarded retroactively to senior officials.

During a press conference at OWTU’s Paramount Headquarters yesterday, Roget warned that the OWTU would rise up and take action if wrongdoers were not investigated and punished. “We are not convinced that the board and minister are perusing aggressively those who are accused of wrong-doing. We had been raising those issues between 2010 and 2015 even as they continued to reorganise the company’s operations with no discussions from the union,” Roget said.

Saying the exposé was not surprising, Roget said the OWTU was hit with litigation for speaking out. Calling for a thorough investigation into corruption allegations, Roget added: “We believe these claims should be fully investigated.” He also said a “full financial forensic audit into the financial operations of Petrotrin between 2010 to 2015,” must be done, adding: “Definitive steps must be taken to recover all the money that was paid out.” Roget also condemned the officials for dipping into Petrotrin’s pension fund which was owned by the workers.

He also called for a freeze on any extra pension allotment given to the accused officials until their names were cleared. Roget further said that some of the officials were still benefitting from free housing, electricity, water, cable and security even though they were no longer part of the company. Officials respond Meanwhile, a former official who requested anonymity sought to justify the hefty salary increases saying by 2012 the management (non-unionised staff) had not received adjustments for five years and higher scales unionised employees were being paid more than lower level management employees.

He said in March 2012, the board approved a salary and grade schedule for some 200 members of management. The official said a salary increase was granted to former vice-president Kenneth Allum and former president Khalid Hassanali in their final months of service. “This is not an uncommon practice at Petrotrin. It is generally designed to facilitate the enhancement of an employee’s pension benefits by granting an increase in the last month or year of employment depending on the employee’s pensionable service and performance and the length of time since the employee’s last salary increase,” the source said.

He noted that a bonus to the president of up to six months base salary was an established Petrotrin policy and Hassanali’s salary was not finalised until May 2015 and applied retroactively to date of appointment as president in May 2012. The official also said none of the individuals gave themselves salary increases. “The increases for Allum and Hassanali were granted by the chairman, acting on authority given to him by the board. The vice-president of human resources and corporate services was required to sign off on these increases as an administrative requirement and to instruct payroll staff to implement the salary increases,” the source added. (Trinidad Guardian)

President general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ancil Roget displays a newspaper clipping on Petrotrin during a press conference yesterday at the union’s head office in San Fernando. Also in the photograph is general secretary Richard Lee, right. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

NJAC Members Vow To Continue Daaga’s Dream Makandal Daaga’s words will still linger on among the elders of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) when he called on them to represent the soul of the movement. “On you depends the survival of the movement. You safeguard its spiritual strength,” Daaga said. The advice came from his book, Thoughts of Chief Servant Makandal Daaga, which was part of the shrine that was set up yesterday at NJAC’s office on Duke Street, Port-of-Spain.

Next to the shrine was a condolence book where scores of people were seen trickling in throughout the day to sign as part of their respects to a man, who most described as a “humble but yet powerful person.” In his advice to the elders, Daaga said they ought to reflect all that was good... “all the movement is aspiring to. While others ponder how to achieve, you are the achievement reflecting the recovery of all that was lost.

Be a light. “Study how to bring peace to the warring spirits among us, without putting yourself up as a peacemaker. You have to be able to bear the test of time,” Daaga said. Speaking to the T&T Guardian yesterday, NJAC’s deputy political leader, Embau Moheni, assured that NJAC leaders have vowed to continue Daaga’s dream of developing a united and enlightened population for the building of a strong nation. Knowing and standing by the side of Daaga for the past 46 years, Moheni described Daaga as a humanitarian because he (Daaga) believed in the people.

“One of the essences of the movement that he built was that he always told us our motivation must be the love of the people. That is why his members and supporters were willing to make personal sacrifices in the interest of the people beyond imagination,” Moheni said. He explained that Daaga’s NJAC was labelled incorrectly in the 70s as the Black Power Movement but was adamant to correct that “historical imposition,” saying that it was a movement for a new and just society in T&T. “Yes, there was black power in the air in the United States and it was a strategy used here to label us the Black Movement in a bid to alienate NJAC from the other ethnic groups but during the demonstration in March 12, 1970, which Daaga led he made it clear it was a march to foster racial and gender unity and harmony,” Moheni said.

“All efforts were made to stop it from taking place because they started saying that we will go into the Indian communities and take over the businesses and rape the women and rob them but the response we got was far more fantastic. “We were welcomed by the Indian community in Caroni and Couva. The meeting went on so late that night that there were no transport to take us back to Port-of-Spain and the people in the community took us into their homes for the night. It was a growing support ever since,” he added. Moheni said he believed that more needed to be done to enlighten the young people of the country.

“I am sure that the children do not know that Makandal in 1970 advocated that there must be a Caribbean exam for the people of the Caribbean and that is how CXC exams came about. “Also, pension benefits.

Daaga was the first man to say that any government who cannot serve the people cannot exist,” he added. Former Independent senator, Noble Khan, who also signed the condolence book yesterday, said he grew up with Daaga in the hills of Laventille and described him (Daaga) as a man with a strong personality.

“He was highly respected and a very pleasant person from my personal interactions with him. He displayed his strong personality well and I am fortunate to have known him and to have supported him throughout the years,” he said.

Daaga’s funeral will be held at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, on Saturday, from 9 am. At the end of the service, the cortege will proceed from the Savannah to the Lapeyrouse Cemetery for Deputy political leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Embau Moheni, interment. (Trinidad Guardian) signs the condolence book for founder Makandal Daaga, at NJAC's headquarters on Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Daaga passed away on Monday at the age of 80. Photo: SHIRLEY BAHADUR

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Man In Viral Accident Video Dies

Ezekiel Burton, 20, who was knocked down on Saturday morning, died at the Eric Williams Sciences Centre, Mt Hope, yesterday after being warded in the Intensive Care Unit for the past three days in a critical condition. According to police reports, Burton was struck by a black Honda Civic driven by Kevon James, 30, along Malabar Extension, Arima, on Saturday around 7 am. A video of the accident has been widely circulated on social networking platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. In the video, Burton, of Tumpuna Villas, Malabar Extension, Arima, was seen attempting to cross the road after purchasing doubles.

On seeing the oncoming vehicle, Burton tried to get out of the way but slipped on the wet road. He was hit and thrown into the air, landing beneath a car parked nearby. The video initially gave the impression the driver had fled the scene, since he reversed his vehicle in the direction he came from and out of the view of the camera a few moments after hitting Burton but police said the man subsequently rendered assistance to Burton. When the T&T Guardian visited Burton’s home yesterday, only his younger sister was there and she said her mother was still at the hospital finalising paperwork.

Residents in the squatting community where Burton lived said the teen was a “cool one.” But speaking on CNC3’s Crime Watch yesterday, Burton’s mother, Vanessa, said her son was hit in front her eyes on his way to get her breakfast. The Pro Sports Bar employee was videotaped running towards her son after he was hit and thrown under a nearby car. She said: “I saw him and I get a feeling and he come and ask me what happen and then he offered to buy me something to eat. He come back with two pies but I didn’t want that I wanted doubles so he went back and get it for me and while on his way back to bring it for me it happened.”

The distraught mother said she kept praying and encouraging her son to hold on every time she visited him at the hospital.

She said she hoped there would now be a thorough investigation and her son’s death would not be swept under the carpet. In another fatal accident, motorcyclist Arnold Jones, who died after he was pinned beneath the wheels of a dump truck on Monday afternoon, was less than a mile from his home when he was killed. Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, his friend and fellow biker, Peter Stewart, said Jones’ death had bikers from acrosss the country in mourning.

He added that his 34-year-old friend only began riding about a year ago and did so for his job as a gardener. Stewart said his friend lived less than a mile from where he died. “We (bikers) have to keep our eyes open and look out for each other. You could master the bike but you can’t master the road,” Stewart said. According to police reports, around 2 pm the driver of the truck, belonging to Sat Sais Company Limited, was heading south along Mausica Road when Jones lost control of the bike and slid beneath the truck’s tyres. (Trinidad Guardian)

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REGIONAL PAGE 20

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Gov’t Committed To Reduction In Road Crashes KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Pearnel Charles, Jr, says the Government is committed to implementing the “necessary measures” to ensure sustainable reduction in road crashes. Addressing a road-safety luncheon in honour of the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, who visited yesterday, Senator Charles commended the various partners in the campaign to end motor-vehicle crashes, and emphasised that there is no option but to remain focused to achieve positive results.

“With all of us focused with shared interests and goals, we will have to be successful. There is no choice and no alternative,” he told the gathering at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston. Meanwhile, the UN envoy told the gathering that road crashes around the world are a problem, but there is a prescription. “It surrounds education, law enforcement, road infrastructure and vehicles,” Todt said. “If you put all your strengths together to change this trend, I am sure that you will achieve the results,” he told the audience. For his part, Commissioner of Police, Dr Carl Williams, said in addition to the work being done by the Traffic and Highway Division to have motorists obey traffic rules, all Jamaicans need to play their part to promote road safety.

“We have to raise public awareness to ensure that our motoring public don’t take to the roads to kill themselves,” he said.

Todt’s one-day visit included meetings with local road-safety stakeholders and persons involved in motor sport. Also attending the luncheon were senior traffic police personnel, and representatives from the National Road Safety Council Commissioner of Police, DrCarl Williams (second left), in discussion with United Nations Special Envoy for Road and motor-racing clubs. (Jamaica Observer) Safety, Jean Todt (left), at a road-safety luncheon, held yesterday, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston. Others (from third left) are Head of the Traffic and Highway Division, Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Allen and President of the Jamaica Automobile Association, Earl Jarrett.

Bahamas Parole Committee To Visit Jamaica, T&T NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Officials from the recently formed Parole and Probation Steering Committee have left here for visits to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as part of the consultative process towards the establishment of a Parole and Probation System in The Bahamas. The Steering Committee has been tasked with proposing a policy framework for a parole system and interventions for the seamless reintegration of past offenders into Bahamian society.

The Parole and Probation Steering Committee is chaired by Paul Farquharson, former Bahamas High Commissioner to London and Commissioner of Police. Retired Anglican Archbishop Reverend Drexel Gomez also serves as Co-Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee. The team to Jamaica includes attorney Wayne Munroe and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dr Dave Burrows, while the delegation to Port of Spain includes the Co-Deputy Chairman of the Parole and Probation Committee Dr Patrick Paul. The visits to the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries follow earlier visits to Canada and the United States. Farquharson said the visits provide local experts with the opportunity to review systems in the developed and developing countries with a view to presenting a system that is designed specifically for The Bahamas. “While we will visit other jurisdictions to get a first-hand view of what they are doing, our process will not be to take what they are doing wholesale and apply them to The Bahamas. “We will ensure that whatever recommendations we make to the Government of The Bahamas with regards to the system that is put in place will reflect The Bahamas and is the best system for The Bahamas,” Farquharson added. A government statement said that the appointment of the Steering Committee is part of the Perry Christie government’s overarching strategy to address the challenges of crime and criminality and recidivism in the Bahamas through the introduction of the Citizens Security and Justice Programme that was launched on May 9, this year. “Under the present system, inmates are currently being released without any conditions or supervision,” Farquharson said, adding “this implementation of a Parole and Probation System will ensure that former inmates – when released, and many of them will be released eventually – are released under supervision and with conditions. “People are already released early. This is meant to supervise them once they are released. The implementation of this system will be a significant upgrade to what we currently have. Everything we will propose to the Government of The Bahamas is going to strengthen what presently exists,” Farquharson added. (Jamaica Observer)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Parish Councillors Not Entitled To Vacation Leave, McKenzie Says KINGSTON, Jamaica — Local Government minister Desmond McKenzie has reiterated that local authorities are not entitled, under current law, to take a recess period at any point during a financial year. McKenzie was responding to a letter from the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ), in which it referred to the holding of a recess in the month of August, as setting a “precedent” for the practice to continue. According to a release from the ministry, the letter also referred to a “Parish Council Act, 2016”, and also, to the use of by-laws as empowering the local authorities to postpone any of their meetings “as the occasion warrants”.

McKenzie expressed disappointment that the umbrella body for the local authorities has not sufficiently familiarised itself with the legislative framework within which it exists. “First of all, there is no longer a Parish Council Act. This was repealed when the three strategic laws for the reform of Local Government, and in particular the Local Governance Act, came into effect in March this year. More importantly, neither the repealed Act, nor the current Act has any provision for any form of recess, to be taken in August, or any other month of the year.

“Section 32 of the Local Governance Act clearly states that a Council ‘shall hold monthly meetings for the transaction of general business.’ The word ‘shall’ means that all Councils must hold their meetings. They have no choice. “A notable practitioner of this is the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), which, while I was mayor, and up to now under the leadership of Mayor Dr Angela Brown-Burke, continues to ensure that the people are served in every month of the year through the holding of the monthly meetings and related activities.” Councillors are not Members of Parliament, who are entitled to recess, and who are required to follow clear procedures in order to give effect to it, the release added.

Local Government Minister In this regard, the minister referred to Circular C02326 of Desmond McKenzie (file photo) November 1998 issued by the then Ministry of Finance and Planning on the subject of vacation leave. “Councillors…are not entitled to vacation leave. In the case of Parliamentarians, they are afforded a break from meetings by way of one month’s recess. A similar arrangement could be put in place for councillors if this is not already being practiced. At present, there are no legal instruments that make provision for the grant of vacation leave to political representatives in the local authorities." (Jamaica Observer)

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 23

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

US Election: Trump Blames Media For 'Gun Threat' Row Republican Donald Trump has blamed the media after being accused of urging supporters to kill his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton. He told Fox News "dishonest" reporters had twisted his remarks, which appeared to suggest that gun rights advocates could stop Mrs Clinton if elected. The businessman-turned-politician denied incitement and said he was exhorting his supporters to vote. The comments on Tuesday afternoon sparked a firestorm of criticism. Some interpreted his comments as a dark suggestion that gun owners could take up arms against Mrs Clinton, while others said they were at the very least irresponsible remarks that could have violent consequences.

Trump denied accusations of incitement(AP) The highest-ranked Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan, said it was an inappropriate joke. And Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said it was a death threat by a "pathetic coward" who was sore because he was trailing in the polls to a woman. The controversial remarks were made at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, and refer to a future president's power to nominate a judge to fill a vacancy on the US Supreme Court. The Republican presidential nominee said of his Democratic opponent: "Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment, by the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks.

"But the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know." The Second Amendment enshrines the right to bear arms in the US Constitution, and there is no evidence that Mrs Clinton wants to abolish it, although she does want to tighten some restrictions. Within minutes of him uttering the words, the criticism began to mount and Mr Trump issued a statement saying he was referring to the political power of gun rights advocates. Hours later, Fox News host Sean Hannity told him the media had been "spinning it" differently.

Mr Trump answered by saying there could be no other interpretation of his words other than the one he had given. "Even reporters have told me, I mean give me a break. But they're dishonest people. "What it is is there's a tremendous power behind the Second Amendment. "It's a political power, and there are few things so powerful, I have to say, in terms of politics." Mr Trump's remarks come after eight days of negative headlines and falling poll numbers. Some leading Republicans have said they cannot vote for him in November's presidential election because of his controversial comments and his hardline stance on immigration. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Germany: Burka Ban To Be Proposed In Security Clampdown

Germany's interior minister will back plans to ban the burka as part of a raft of anti-terror measures, local media say. Thomas de Maiziere also proposes deporting criminals more quickly and relaxing doctor confidentiality rules. He is due to announce some ideas on Thursday, and back some ideas from ministers in his party next week. There have been repeated attacks in German cities recently, some of them related to Islamist terror. In July, an axe-wielding teenager from Afghanistan injured five people on a train in Wuerzburg before he was shot dead by police.

The same month, a failed asylum seeker from Syria killed himself and injured 15 people when he set off a bomb outside a music festival in Ansbach. Both attacks were claimed by the so-called Islamic State group. The burka is a strict Muslim veil for women that covers the full head and body. Not many people in Germany wear it. The country has very few restrictions on people's dress. A committee of the government issued a report in 2012 saying it would be unconstitutional to ban the full burka or the niqab facial veil.

But there are some exceptions. For instance, it is illegal to cover your face in a football stadium in Germany. Burka bans exist in other parts of Europe, notably France, Belgium and some towns in Italy. Patient confidentiality In Germany, doctors who breach patient confidentiality can face up to a year in prison or be forced to pay a fine. But under Mr de Maiziere's proposed changes, they would have to inform the authorities if they became suspicious that a patient was planning to harm other people.

The proposals have drawn sharp criticism from across the political left and from doctors. Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the head of the German Medical Association, said: "Patient confidentiality protects patients' privacy and is a basic right under the constitution. "The tense domestic security situation must not tempt us into rash political and legal measures.'' On Thursday, Mr de Maiziere is expected to announce the plans for speeding up the deportation process, making being a "threat to public security" grounds for deporting migrants, and relaxing doctors' confidentiality obligations. Next week, he is expected to back a series of measures being considered by a grouping of German states' interior ministers from within his own Christian Democrat party and its Bavarian sister party.

The ministers propose: banning the burka stopping German people from being allowed to hold dual nationality recruiting 15,000 more police officers by 2020 posting more police on trains and in transport hubs making it more difficult for extremist organisations to finance mosques deporting foreign hate preachers German law requires non-EU citizens to give up their existing nationality when applying for German citizenship. Mr de Maiziere says the terror threat to Germany is high. "We live in difficult times," he said on Wednesday. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, a fellow Christian Democrat, has previously said information sharing should be ramped up in the wake of the attacks on Germany this summer. (BBC)

Few women in Germany actually wear the burka(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 26

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Attempted Crimea 'Incursions’ Russia has accused Ukraine of trying to carry out armed incursions into Crimea - the territory annexed by Russia in 2014 after an unrecognised referendum. The FSB intelligence agency said two attempted incursions had taken place over the weekend and a Russian soldier and an FSB employee had been killed. President Vladimir Putin vowed "further security measures" in response to Ukraine's "stupid and criminal" acts. Ukraine's president described the accusations as "preposterous".

"Russian accusations against Ukraine of terrorism in occupied Crimea sound as preposterous and cynical as the statements of the Russian leadership about the absence of Russian troops in the Donbass [region of rebel-held eastern Ukraine]," Petro Poroshenko said. "These fantasies are only a pretext for making more military threats against Ukraine," he added. Russia accuses. Ukraine denies. So what few things can we say for certain about what happened in Crimea at the weekend? We know that on Saturday the Russian authorities in Crimea temporarily closed one of the main crossing points between the territory and mainland Ukraine.

Ukrainian sources then claimed that Russia had moved a considerable amount of armour and troops into the peninsular. Rumours circled on social media (the information war is a crucial dimension in the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Kiev).

An unverified video was posted on Twitter, which purported to show Russian military vehicles heading west from the very eastern tip of Crimea, close to the Russian mainland. Now the FSB claims Ukraine's military hatched a plot to attack infrastructure in Crimea.

And, true to previous form, Vladimir Putin has not minced his words. Last year, on primetime Russian TV, President Putin admitted he had lied about deploying Russian troops in Crimea when the territory was annexed by Russia in 2014. So whether true or not, the FSB's claims will be viewed with huge scepticism and will probably provoke some anger in Ukraine. Russia says one of those detained is Yevhen Panov. Initial reports suggest he was a former military volunteer fighting for Ukraine in the east of the country.

However he has apparently more recently been associated with a charitable organisation. Ukraine has managed to contain the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and, in purely military terms, it is hard to see what Ukraine has to gain by provoking its larger, much more powerful neighbour. For all the talk about rapprochements and peace in eastern Ukraine, there has been very little concrete progress. Fighting between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainians goes on every day.

Just two weeks before Ukraine celebrates 25 years of independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations between Moscow and Kiev have taken another turn for the worse. Line Kiev is preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence on 24 August, and officials have suggested Moscow may try to disrupt the celebrations. Russia is preparing for a parliamentary election on 18 September. The FSB said Ukrainian forces had intended to sabotage key infrastructure in Crimea.

"The aim of this subversive activity and terrorist acts was to destabilise the socio-political situation in the region ahead of preparations and the holding of elections," the spy agency said. It said the attempted incursions had been accompanied by "heavy fire" from Ukrainian territory, resulting in the death of the Russian soldier. The FSB employee died while trying to detain infiltrators, it said. Bombs, ammunition and mines had been found in the area where "terrorist attacks" had been foiled, it said.

Mr Putin said there was no point in further negotiations with Ukraine and called on the US and European countries to put pressure on Kiev to change its behaviour. About 9,000 people are reported to have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine that followed the Russian annexation of Crimea. The annexation, which was itself largely bloodless, followed a vote to secede at a referendum on selfdetermination on 16 March 2014 - a ballot which was not recognised internationally. The US and European Union imposed sanctions on Moscow in response to its seizure of the territory. (BBC)

Russian ships and amphibious vehicles took part in military celebrations in Crimea on 31 July(REUTERS)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

US Government Blasts Baltimore Police Over Race A US justice department report has accused police in the city of Baltimore of routinely discriminating against black people and using excessive force. An inquiry was ordered after a young black man, Freddie Gray, died in police custody in April of last year, sparking Baltimore's worst riots for decades. The report found African-Americans had been disproportionately targeted.

Unjustified strip searches were conducted while in one arrest, a black man's weapon was listed as "his mouth".

In recent years, the justice department has conducted similar investigations into the police in Chicago, Cleveland, Albuquerque and Ferguson, Missouri. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake responded to Wednesday's report by promising speedy reforms. The statistics are damning and the individual cases studies are alarming. The report talks of one black man being stopped 30 times in four years without ever being charged and 60 cases of the police being accused of using the N-word in interactions with black people, though only one of those incidents being recorded as the use of a racial slur.

But the report's findings seem to have surprised very few here. The feeling among many is that American policing is beset with systemic racism, with Baltimore having a particularly bad record. The fact that around 40% of the city's police force is now African American does not appear to have been enough to turn things around. The Department of Justice has recommended a push towards community policing, a style of law enforcement that has been resisted by forces in other parts of the country.

“Over the next few months, we will put in place a concrete plan for change and a new culture - for the good of the city, the police department and the people it protects," she said in a statement. The report runs to 163 pages. Among the findings: Black residents account for roughly 84% of stops although they represent 63% of the city's population Black residents make up 95% of the 410 people stopped at least 10 times by officers between 2010 and 2015 Police stopped 34 black residents 20 times, and seven black residents 30 times or more, between 2010 and 2015.

No individuals of any other race were stopped more than 12 times In addition to pat-downs, Baltimore officers perform unconstitutional public strip searches, including searches of people who are not under arrest Officers routinely use unreasonable and excessive force, including against juveniles and citizens who are not dangerous or posing an immediate threat 'Trust eroded' The head of the justice department's civil rights division, Vanita Gupta, told reporters the Baltimore Police Department's practices had "deeply eroded" trust between officers and the community.

“We conclude that there is reasonable cause to believe that BPD engages in a pattern of practice of conduct that violates the constitution and federal anti-discrimination law," she said. BPD Commissioner Kevin Davis said people were right to be indignant at police behaviour as described in the report. "Citizens can't be expected to respect an agency if the trust of that agency is breached.

There are several instances in this report in which that fragile trust has been breached." Guilty police officers have been fired, he added. 'The harsh reality' An official from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a leading AfricanAmerican civil rights organisation, said the report confirmed "what many African-American residents of Baltimore have known and lived too long". Sherrilyn Ifill said the report's findings had laid "bare the harsh reality of discriminatory policing in a major American city''.

She urged "residents, community groups and leading city institutions to marshal their resources and prepare for the long haul to find a way forward". Freddie Gray, 25, suffered a broken neck while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained in the back of a police on 12 April 2015.

Six police officers were arrested on charges which ranged from involuntary manslaughter to misconduct in office but none was convicted.

Freddie Gray is commemorated by a mural in Baltimore(WIN MCNAMEE)

Continued on next page...

INTERNATIONAL PAGE 29

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

US Government Blasts Baltimore Police Over Race (Cont’d) THE SIX OFFICERS

Top L-R: Caesar Goodson Jr; Garrett Miller; Edward Nero. Bottom L-R: William Porter; Brian Rice; Alicia White Brian Rice, aged 41: Mr Rice was one of the three officers who first encountered Gray while on a bicycle patrol and participated in the initial arrest. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault and misconduct in office, among other charges. His trial began on 7 July but he was found not guilty on all counts on 18 July.

Edward Nero, 29: Another one of the three bicycle patrol officers who first encountered Gray. Mr Nero was charged with second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. He went to trial but was found not guilty on all counts in May. Garrett Miller, 26: The third of the three officers who first encountered Gray. Mr Miller was charged with second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. His trial was due to begin on 27 July but all charges against him were dropped the same day.

William Porter, 25: Became involved after the initial arrest. Prosecutors said Mr Porter was asked twice by Gray for medical assistance but failed to summon any. Mr Porter was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. After his first trial ended in a mistrial in December, he was put on trial again last month but the charges were dropped.

Alicia White, 30: Ms White was accused by the prosecution of failing to call for medical assistance for Gray when he was in obvious distress.

She was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault and misconduct in office. Her trial was due to begin in October but all charges against her have been dropped.

Caesar Goodson Jr, 45: Mr Goodson was the driver of the van in which Gray was held. He was charged with second-degree "depraved-heart" murder and manslaughter by vehicle, among other charges. He went on trial in June but was found not guilty on all charges. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Iraq Parents' Horror At Baby Unit Fire Deaths

Parents of premature babies who died in a hospital fire in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have spoken of their loss, with one saying she could not recognise the remains given to her. "I found my baby charred," she said. Officials said at least 12 newborn babies died in a blaze that was probably caused by an electrical fault, and took three hours to put out. Eight other children and 29 women had to be moved from the unit and transferred to nearby hospitals. It happened in the maternity unit of the Yarmouk Hospital in the west of the city.

Electrical fires are common in Iraq because of shoddy maintenance and poor wiring, and a lack of fire escapes often adds to the danger. Shaima Hussein, 36, and her husband were inside the hospital and on their way to see their two-day-old son when the fire broke out. Their path was blocked by a wall of thick smoke. Mrs Hussein survived after somebody broke a window to help her escape. "I looked at the victims, I saw them charred," she said. "It was a horrible scene. "It was very difficult for me to give birth to a child.

I have had medical treatment to have a baby. "After all these efforts I received a charred body." 'It looks like charcoal' One woman, Umm Ahmed, was looking for a family member's baby. She said: "They told me 'go find him in the fridge'." "I found him in a small cardboard box but I'm not even sure if it's our child or a piece of sponge. It looks like charcoal." 'I want them back' Hussein Omar, 30, said he feared that his week-old twins had died. Hospital officials had told him to look for them at the other hospitals in Baghdad, he told AP. But he could not find them. "I couldn't tell their mother who is still recovering from the Caesarean," said Mr Omar. "I want my baby boy and girl back. The government must give them back to me."

‘Government doesn't care' Eshrak Ahmed Jaasar, 41, who was unable to find her four-day-old nephew, blamed the government for the tragedy. "We pay the hospital employees thousands of Iraqi dinars to allow us in to get our loved ones basic food and milk, which they cannot provide," she said. "It's a corrupt government that doesn't care about its citizens and lets this happen." An adviser to the health ministry, Dr Amir al-Mukhtar, said there had been 20 babies inside the maternity unit when the fire erupted around midnight.

The blaze spread very quickly and caused a lot of damage, he added. A health ministry source told the BBC that 19 of the children and women who survived needed treatment for burns and smoke inhalation. An official from the Baghdad health directorate, Jassem Lateef al-Hijami, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying: "The hospital is very old and doesn't have fire equipment." Photos purportedly taken inside the Yarmouk Hospital showed cockroaches crawling out from between broken tiles, bins overflowing with rubbish, dirty toilets, and patients lying on stretchers in a courtyard, the Reuters news agency reports. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

France Terror: Girl, 16, Investigated Over Telegram 'Attack Plan’ A 16-year-old French girl has been placed under investigation, accused of planning a jihadist attack using the Telegram messaging app, judicial officials say. The girl, who has no criminal record, was detained at her home on Thursday, after an antiterror raid near Paris. She was an administrator of a group on the encrypted app, and is alleged to have been calling for attacks. The app had been used by the men who killed a priest in Normandy last month. Thursday's raid was the result of monitoring by security services of suspicious behaviour on social networks, Le Parisien newspaper reports.

They noticed the thread where a few dozen members discussed so-called Islamic State (IS) propaganda, including calls to carry out attacks and videos, the newspaper said. Investigations revealed the group administrator to be a 16-year-old secondary-school pupil. "She relayed numerous Islamic State group propaganda messages calling for attacks, and she also expressed her own intention of taking action," a source close to the investigation told AFP news agency. The security forces raided her family home in Melun, south-east of Paris, but found no explosives or firearms there, and took her into custody.

A Muslim woman placing flowers in front of the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, where French priest Jacques Hamel was killed on 26 July (29 July 2016). The investigators said the girl was "extremely radicalised" and was the administrator of the chat group dedicated to so-called Islamic State propaganda on the app, deputy prosecutor Laure Vermeersch said late on Monday. The girl - whose name has not been released - did not mention any specific targets, Ms Vermeersch said.

She is being investigated for "criminal terrorist enterprise" and "provocation to commit terrorist acts using online communication". On 26 July, two 19-year-olds stormed a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen, during Mass and slit the throat of an elderly priest before being killed by police. One of them is said to have sent out encrypted audio messages on Telegram, proclaiming his intention of carrying out an attack, days before the pair struck. France has lived under a state of emergency since jihadist attackers killed 130 people last November in Paris.

Parliament extended the measure for an additional six months after the lorry attack in the southern city of Nice that killed 85 people on Bastille Day last month. Extradition Separately, Mourad Hamyd, the brother-in-law of Cherif Kouachi, one of the perpetrators of the attack against Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015, has said he agrees to be extradited to France from Bulgaria, AFP reports. Mr Hamyd was arrested by the Bulgarian authorities on 28 July after being stopped from entering Turkey; he is believed to have wanted to join IS in Syria, reports say. (BBC)

France has lived under a state of emergency for nearly nine months, following a spate of terror attacks(GETTY IMAGES)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

India Police Investigate 'Great Train Robbery’

Police in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu are investigating an unusual case of theft. Thieves targeted a train carrying over 200 chests of used and damaged bank notes - cutting a hole in the roof of the train carriage and stealing 57.5m rupees ($860,000; £570,000). Police are unsure whether the thieves had hid in the carriage or cut their way into the train while it was moving.

The theft was only discovered when the train reached its destination. The news has been prominently covered by Indian media, with some calling it "the great train robbery". Police say they believe that a group of six to eight robbers may have been involved in the heist, which took place between Monday night and Tuesday morning during the train's 350km-long (270 miles) journey from Salem town to Chennai (Madras).

The coach was carrying 3.4bn rupees ($51m) - and security personnel guarding the money were sat nearby, in the neighbouring compartment. The notes belonged to India's central bank, Reserve Bank of India, and were on their way to Chennai to be destroyed. But on arrival, when officials broke the seal on the carriage, they found chests broken open and a hole cut in the train's metal roof. "We are inquiring with the train guard and the police personnel if they heard any unusual noises on the roof," police superintendent P Vijayakumar told the AFP news agency.

Inspector General of Police, M Ramasubramani, told the news agency the thieves "created a manhole and then sneaked one after the other and lifted the bundles to the roof before taking them away." The train is now stationed in Chennai as police continue to i n v e s t i g a t e t h e r o b b e r y.

Correspondents say the case raises questions about how security could have been breached on such a closely The thieves cut a hole into the roof of the train guarded train. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

US Government BlasTurkish Admiral 'Claims Asylum In US' After Failed Coupts Baltimore Police Over Race A high-ranking Turkish military officer has reportedly claimed asylum in the United States after authorities in Turkey linked him to the failed coup. Mustafa Ugurlu had been on a posting to a Nato base in Virginia at the time of the 15 July botched coup. Turkey has purged its military ranks of some 100 generals accused of being part of a shadowy movement that follows a US-based Turkish preacher.

Rear Adm Ugurlu disappeared on 22 July, a week after the coup. US officials told Reuters news agency that an unnamed rear admiral was seeking asylum, and he was later named by Anadolu Agency as Mustafa Ugurlu. Military espionage case It comes at a difficult moment in relations between the two Nato allies as Turkey is seeking the extradition from the US of the cleric accused of masterminding the coup, Fethullah Gulen. He denies involvement. Two US officials told Reuters the rear admiral had been working at Nato's Allied Command Transformation headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, where 26 Turkish military are posted.

In April he took part in a Nato conference in Poland and was identified as the Western military alliance's Assistant Chief of Staff for Command and Control, Deployability and Sustainability based in Norfolk. A Turkish embassy official in Washington told Reuters that the rear admiral had failed to report for duty after a detention order was issued. "He left his badges and his ID at the base and after that no one has heard anything from him," the official said. Rear Adm Ugurlu was named by prosecutors in the western Turkish city of Izmir, according to Anadolu, as part of a military espionage case involving the leaking of information.

Some 18,000 people have been placed in detention in response to the failed coup, including many from the military. The government said on Monday that more than 200 soldiers suspected of involvement in the coup, including nine generals, were still at large. Many more have lost their jobs or been suspended across Turkey's public services, on suspicion of being Gulen followers. Turkey has criticised the response of its Western partners to the events of 15 July and their aftermath. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Tuesday that if the US failed to hand over Mr Gulen "it will have sacrificed Turkey to a terrorist".

And Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned the European Union on Wednesday that it was making "serious mistakes" in its response to the failed coup. "They have failed the test following the coup attempt," he was quoted as saying in a broadcast interview. An EU-Turkey deal to halt the influx of migrants and refugees via Greece may already be in jeopardy. Another minister has warned that the agreement will be over if the EU fails to provide a date for allowing visa-free travel to EU states in the Schengen border-free area.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will back the return of the death penalty in Turkey if parliament votes for it. Such a move would automatically end negotiations for Turkey's entry into the EU, let alone the migrant agreement. Capital punishment was abolished under the European Convention of Human Rights. Two Turkish reports identified the missing Austrian ministers have already cast doubt this week on rear admiral as Mustafa Ugurlu(DHA) Turkey joining the EU in the next few years. (BBC)

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GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

Libyans 'Oust' So-Called IS From Sirte Headquarters US-backed Libyan militias say they have seized control of the headquarters of so-called Islamic State in Sirte. "The Ouagadougou [convention] centre is in our hands," a spokesman for forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed government of national accord said. Sirte, on the Mediterranean coast, is IS's most significant stronghold in Libya.

The city has been under the militant group's control since February 2015. The pro-government forces said IS fighters still held positions in three residential areas of Sirte and in a villa complex near the seafront. But capturing the Ouagadougou centre had been a key aim of the offensive against IS in the past few weeks. Fighters also took Sirte's Ibn Sina hospital and university campus, spokesman Rida Issa said.

At least three fighters were killed and several others wounded, he said. IS was said to have lost at least 20 of its men. The US has estimated that IS has fewer than 1,000 fighters in Sirte, many of whom are foreigners and veterans of the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Earlier, a news agency affiliated with IS said the group had brought down a Libyan fighter jet in Sirte. Pro-government forces said they had lost contact with one aircraft. Two people were reportedly on board. (BBC)

Del i very:2237604 LOT13FI FTH STREETAVENUE SUBRYANVI LLESHERI FFSTREET GEORGETOWN

RECIPE PAGE 38

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

Ingredients

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

RECIPE OF THE DAY: BANANA CRUMB MUFFINS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 bananas, mashed 3/4 cup white sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 / 3 c u p PA L M B O O M * butter, melted 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon PALMBOOM* butter

Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

FUN CORNER PAGE 39

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

DIY (DO IT YOURSELF): NECKLACE PENDANT

HOROSCOPE PAGE 41

GUYANA DAILY NEWS

Daily Horoscope Investments will cost more than you anticipated.

When the work is done, they may serve you for a change. You can meet new and exciting friends who will provide mental stimulation.

You should not be concerned with coworkers who insist on spreading rumors. Try not to argue about trivial matters. Use your better judgment before you sign up for a costly venture.

Travel will be in your best interest. Travel will promote new romantic connections. Set the ball in motion and be relentless until you complete the project.

Your ability to get the job done will result in added responsibility and possible promotion.

Losses are likely if you aren't careful where you leave your valuables. Don't hesitate to talk to your partner about rekindling your relationship.

Contracts will not be as lucrative as you think.

You can get a great deal accomplished if you bring work home. Legal matters that have been pending may be alleviated through compromise.

You've been in a rut and you need to do something that will help you break the pattern you've fallen into. Any attractions toward clients will be one sided and must be put right out of your head. You can open up to your mate and let them know what you expect out of this relationship.

Look into real estate. You can expect your mate to get fed up and make the choices for you or back off completely. You may have problems with skin, bones, or teeth if you haven't been taking proper care of yourself.

Empty promises will cause confusion. Don't play on your partner's emotions. Business conducted in your own ofďŹ ce will proceed smoothly.

Do not sign contracts or get involved in any uncertain ďŹ nancial deals. Set your goals and stick to your guns.

You can certainly gain popularity; however, don't do it by paying for everyone else.

Romance is likely if you can bring yourself to go out with friends. Interaction with colleagues will only be upsetting. You can receive recognition for the work you've done.

Someone you live with may feel totally neglected.

Quarrels will erupt if you get into philosophical debates with friends. Your emotional state will vacillate Believe in yourself and so will those who count.

You must follow your desires and dreams. Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016

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India End First Innings On 353, West Indies Begins Reply

A partnership of 213 between Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Jadeja helped India recover to 353 all out on the second day of their third Test against the West Indies at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia. Ashwin, who made 118, went caught by Jermaine Blackwood off the bowling of Miguel Cummins, who had taken his first Test wicket just a few overs before.

Cummins ended the innings with figures of 3-54 from 21.4 overs of bowling. Jadeja, who was also in a century-making mood, scored 104, to help bail out the side, which struggled to 87-4, before losing another wicket to be down at 126-5. When Saha lost his wicket with the score at 339-6, there was a second collapse in the innings, which ended just 14 runs later. On day one, Lokesh Rahul scored an even 50 on a scorecard where only Ajinkya Rahane (35), had any meaninful impact.

Debutant Alzarri Joseph also ended with good figures for the West Indies, ending with figures of 3-69 from 24 overs. Roston Chase, playing in only his second Test was also good for the West Indies, bowling 33 overs and taking 2-70. Shannon Gabriel also had two wickets, his 23 overs costing 84. The West Indies have begun their reply and are 16 without loss. Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Leon Johnson are on eight each. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: 'I Never Think About Gatlin Or Losing' - Bolt

World’s fastest man Usain Bolt insists he does not think about American competitor Justin Gatlin or losing, despite the rapid approach of the much-anticipated Rio Olympics sprint events. Both athletes will line up in the 100m heats on Saturday, with Bolt looking to be the first man in history to claim the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at three straight Olympic Games. Gatlin, who has emerged as the sprinter’s primary rival in the last couple of seasons is widely regarded to be the man who stands in the way of Bolt and his Olympic dreams.

“I don’t think about him really. I always try to run the race in my head I try to execute, but I’m definitely not trying to sit down and think about anyone,” Bolt said. “I’m just focused on working out trying to execute and figure out what I need to do to get it right,” he added. “You can’t think about that (losing). The moment you start thinking about what if then you going the wrong way. So for me I just think about being positive. I think about winning. (SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: Murray And Nadal Forced To Wait By Rain

Rain played havoc with the rowing and tennis at the Rio Games on Wednesday. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal were among the stars to see their third-round men's singles matches at Rio 2016 delayed by rain.

Weather caused havoc elsewhere on Wednesday with the rowing hit by a second day of delays in this Games.

Third seed Nadal had been due to face Gilles Simon, but that contest will now open Centre Court on Thursday. Murray is the highest seed left in the draw after Novak Djokovic was stunned by Juan Martin del Potro in the first round. The Wimbledon champion's match with Fabio Fognini will follow the Nadal-Simon match on Centre. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: Felix Feeling Close To Her Best

An ankle injury hampered Allyson Felix's hopes of a 200 and 400 metre double at Rio 2016, but she now feels close to her best condition. Allyson Felix feels she is close to being back to her best after an ankle injury led to disappointment at the United States Olympic team trials in July. Felix was set to compete in the 400 and 200 metres at Rio 2016, but failed to qualify in the latter event after finishing fourth in the U.S. trials.

The 30-year-old will consequently be unable to defend the 200m gold she won in London four years ago when she takes part in her fourth Games in Brazil. However, the American is confident in her condition ahead of an attempt to add to her six previous Olympic medals. "I feel like I've made progress since the trials, I feel better than I did at trials," said Felix. "Trials are so demanding, physically and emotionally, it was rough on me this time. I have some issues with recovery, but they are under control.

I feel normal, close to my best. "Each time [at the Games] it's a different experience. I've had a lot of adversity this year. I'm happy to try and get it done. I'm going after a new challenge." Felix was part of USA's 4x100m and 4x400m relay-winning teams at London 2012 and is looking forward to renewing their rivalry with Jamaica, who had to settle for silver and bronze respectively. "It's a highlight for us. We bring out the best in each other. It will be another great showdown," she said. (SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: Laugher And Mears Secure Historic Diving Gold For Team GB Team GB won a first gold medal in diving thanks to Jack and Chris Mears made history on Wednesday, securing Great Laugher and his miraculous partner Chris Mears. Jack Laugher Britain's first Olympic gold medal in diving as they won the synchronised three-metre springboard. The British pair produced a superb final dive to displace Chinese duo Qin Kai and Cao Yuan, whose botched entries on their last effort left them third.

Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon of the United States took silver, having scored 98.04 on their final effort - the best score of the competition. Victory was even more remarkable for Mears as he was given just a five per cent chance of living after bursting his spleen in a training accident in 2009. The success of Mears and Laugher earned Team GB a second medal in the diving, after Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow grabbed bronze in the synchronised 10m platform. Qin, meanwhile, now has five Olympic diving medals (two gold, one silver and two bronze) - a tally surpassed only by Dimitry Sautin of Russia (8). (SportsMax)

Barcelona 3 Sampdoria 2: Messi Nets Brace To Lift Joan Gamper Trophy Barcelona got their revenge for a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria in 2012's Joan Gamper Trophy by beating them 3-2 in this year's game. A Lionel Messi brace ensured Barcelona ended their preseason campaign with a comfortable 3-2 victory over Sampdoria at Camp Nou that saw them lift the Joan Gamper Trophy. Luis Enrique fielded a strong side that showed little of the defensive frailty that allowed Liverpool to hammer them 4-0 in the International Champions Cup on Saturday, and there were only 16 minutes on the clock when Messi performed an overhead kick in the box that was headed into the net from close range by Luis Suarez.

With Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza watching from the stands, Messi - who retired from international football following more Copa America heartache - made it two when he finished a move that he started himself, latching onto Ivan Rakitic's chipped pass before rounding Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano to leave himself with a simple finish. Sampdoria hit back quickly when a defensive error allowed Luis Muriel to break into the box and slide the ball past Claudio Bravo, but Messi restored Barcelona's two-goal lead with a trademark freekick that he bent past Viviano from all of 25 yards.

The second half saw Sampdoria improve at the back, but Arda Turan almost added a fourth when he hooked a dipping shot onto the crossbar with Viviano well beaten. The Serie A side grabbed a consolation goal when Ante Budimir chested the ball down and lashed a shot past substitute Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but Sampdoria's late push for an equaliser went unrewarded as the hosts produced a strong final few minutes, with Suarez hitting the crossbar in injury time. (SportsMax)

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Rio 2016: Campbell Struggling With Late Nights Despite Olympic Record Although Cate Campbell added an Olympic record to her world record on Wednesday, she is struggling with the late nights in Rio. She may have set an Olympic record in her first individual race at Rio 2016, but Cate Campbell is finding the late-night schedule difficult to handle. Campbell was part of Australia's gold-medal winning 4x100 metre freestyle relay team on day one, but Wednesday's 100m freestyle heat represented her first solo outing.

The 24-year-old was in fine form as she added a new Olympic record of 52.78 seconds to the world record of 52.06secs she set in Brisbane in July to advance to the semi-finals fastest. However, Campbell was seen hitting herself before the race, and when asked why, she replied: "Just trying to wake up to be honest. "It's still a little weird. We were getting up and it was like 10 in the morning, bleary eyed and there were people out there already running or coming back from their workout and you're like 'ugh'.

“So yeah, just trying to wake up. You're always a little bit nervous for your first swim so I'm really glad that that's out of the way." Sarah Sjostrom was third fastest in the heats, but, having already won gold in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 200m freestyle, does not believe breaking Campbell's record will be within her capabilities. "I think the world record in the 100 freestyle is more for Cate Campbell to beat. I can't swim that fast, it's not possible for me," she said. (SportsMax)

Rio 2016: History Beckons For Bolt And Fraser-Pryce

Track and field events get underway in Rio on Friday after months of negative headlines for athletics in the build-up to the Olympics. The best track and field athletes on the planet are preparing to light up Rio a week after the Olympic Games officially started with a spectacular opening ceremony, with Usain Bolt among the starts aiming to make history. Friday marks the start of the track and field events and the anticipation will build in expectation of seeing Bolt defend his 100 metre crown in the blue riband event of the Games at the Olympic Stadium two days later.

Charismatic showman Bolt won 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold at the last two Olympics and is confident he can complete an unprecedented triple-triple in Brazil. The legendary Jamaican vowed this will be his last Olympics and warned his rivals that he is ready to shatter the 200m world record, as well as winning the 100m and taking relay gold yet again. Bolt, who insisted he is fully fit after recovering from a hamstring injury, will become the third athlete to win nine Olympic athletics golds if he pulls off another treble, a tally only the great Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi can boast. Justin Gatlin has clocked the fastest time of the year - 9.80 seconds - but it would be a surprise if Bolt fails to outpace the American in his Olympic swansong.

After months of talk over whether Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in Rio, the attention can finally shift to the athletes who will showcase their talents on the big stage and there will be no shortage of global icons on show. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce can also go down in the record books for Jamaica

by winning Saturday's women's 100m final to become the first female athlete to win the shortest sprint race three times in a row at the Olympics. Allyson Felix failed to qualify for the 200m, but will compete over a full lap of the track and the United States sprint sensation needs just one gold to become the first woman to win five in athletics.

Felix is set to face stern competition from Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas, who clocked the fastest time this year of 49.55 seconds, in a potential 400m showdown on Monday. World record holder Ashton Eaton can be expected to defend his decathlon crown, while Mo Farah is targeting another 5000m and 10,000m final double after raising the roof by leaving his rivals trailing in his wake on home soil in London.

Eliud Kipchoge is another man on a mission, striving to add a marathon medal to the 5000m silver he won at Beijing 2008 and bronze over the same distance four years earlier in Athens.

Athletics' reputation has taken a battering in recent times, but some of the most impressive sportspeople in the world are ready to show the sport at its best over 10 d a y s o f competition.

(SportsMax)